Category: Sleepy Orange

Deptford Pink And . . .

Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria) is an annual or biennial plant that pops up in just a few places here, in one of my gardens, in a corner of the lane, or a spot in the woods, every summer. It is native to Europe and though I am dedicated to native plants, it makes me happy to see this slender plant emerging from the soil to a height of 1 to 2 feet. Each bloom a brilliant medium pink measuring in at 1/3 to 1/2 inch across — so you know that the Crab Spider (Thomisidae) on that bottom petal is a mighty tiny one, just sitting, waiting for its lunch to come by.

Another non-native enjoying the nectar of the Deptford Pink, the Cabbage White (Pieris rapae). A butterfly native to Eurasia and North Africa.

Deptford Pink with Lavender (Lavandula), which is a perennial herb, part of the mint family. That Lavender, another non-native, originally came from the Middle East and India. Arabs domesticated it and brought it to Spain in the 7th century. Then the Spanish brought Lavender to North America. Lavender and Deptford Pink, a lovely combination.

Last but not least, another visitor to the Deptford Pinks in my yard, another butterfly, but this one, a native, the Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe). And like the Cabbage White, it’s dining on nectar.

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Sleepy Orange

If only you could see the whole series of images that this one came from. The series is like a dramatic opera without music but so much movement! Butterflies love this flower, Tithonia rotundifolia. That’s the orange flower that caused the drama. I highly recommend it if butterflies bring you pleasure. An annual plant that requires me to remember each year to plant it. Best of luck, if you’re like me and don’t necessarily remember little things like planting this, that, or the other thing at the proper time of year.

But let me get on with the topic at hand. The Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe). There are two of them in the small photo above. These beauties can be found in North America, the West Indies, Costa Rica and Belize.

The wing span of the Sleepy Orange is between 1.5 and 2 inches, or about the size of a Cabbage White. The host plants include Cassia, Clover, Wild Sennas, and Partridge Pea. The adult Sleepy Orange loves to sip nectar from flowers using its tongue like a straw.

The flight period of the Sleepy Orange in Virginia are generally June until October. Sometimes several are seen “puddling” or gathering around a puddle or patch of wet sand where they get sips of water along with the natural salts they need.